Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-09
THE NEWFOUNDLAND FISHERIES
Tie Real Condition OF she Fisher
Earning Not Enough
TO Buy bread.

chieyous person has been maligning
this colony once more, so the Govern
eminent organs cay, by representing to
the American papers that our fisheries
have been failure, and that great dcs-
itution prevails. 1t does appear that
an exaggerated account OF our condi-
ton has been published abroad, but
the exaggeration is not nearly so great
as interested parties here wish the ont
side world to believe. Our fisheries
have resulted badly, in some cases
almost disastrously, but the failure has
been distorted and its probable results
magnified. The facts are these: The
Boston Hcrdid Of the 18th instant APP
pears TO have stated that orr fisheries
had failed, that one thousand empty
vessels were returning from Labrador,
our crops had also failed, and that wide
spread bankruptcy and starvation
threatened the colony. Upon receipt
of information that this report had
been published our merchant premier
tolegraphcd that it was all false, and
not only had the fisheries and crops
not failed, but the colony's condition
vas better than at the same lime last
wear. Bothrcport and contradiction We're
incorrect The west.rn-shOre fishery
and the bank fishery have not failed
they have been fair, though not nearly
so good as last year, and those engaged
10 prosecuting have done well enough
o relieve the colony Of any anxiety on
their account. The eastern shore fish
cry, particularly the northern portion,
las been q decided failure, and tue ma
iority of those who reside upon, the
shores Of Conception, Trinity, Bona
vista, and Notre Dame bays, three
fourths OF our entire population, have
not earned enough TO buy their
daily bread, much less pay for last
springs supplies or provide for this
winter In some parts the fishermen
have not caught five quintals Of fish per
nan during the entire season, and what
This means You can understand when
Won recall to mind the fact that fishing
Is the sole means of livelihood pursued
by these people. From the bays men
toned many people go to the Labrador,
and from there the last report, the ba-
sis apparently, of the Herdids story,
was very bad indeed. One thousand
vessels, a local newspaper report
ed, were empty, not on their
way home. however, and five
hundred had but few quintals
apiece. y lie ice had remained on the
coast unprecedentedly late, was still
there in fact. and this had kept the fish
quiet and dsinclined to take the hook.
Chr crops have not failed on the con
trary they are very fair. Hay miserably
failed, bat this does not seriously affect
the bulk of our people. Turnips are
fair, cabbage average, potatoes good,
and as the last constitute our most in
portant crop agricultural operations
may he considered successful 50
tar. Upon the whole the condi-
lion Of the colony is worse than it was
at the same season last year, and this
the Premier well knows. The fact is,
his government found the poverty cry
necessary last year, and worked 1t for
all it was worth, squandered thousands
ulOn so called relief works, but really
for purposes of political corruption
This year the same game is not neces-
sary, and the Premier and his mercan-
tile government pretend to be as
blind TO the real state of the country
as they would fain have the outside
world. The game will hardly succeed,
however, for the people must be fed,
and labor must be provided to the
colony. The colony is financially sound,
It's resources are sufficient to meet It'll
liabilities over and over again, and Its
businessmen are thoroughly solvent /
believe, but there is no more use in
making matters appear better than
there is in making them seem worse,
and the truth should be told in time.
1t will scarcely be credited that
though We as Il colony exist by fisRwe
have no fishery department, and know
rothing officially Of our finny treasures.
In New Foundland we should know all
about fish, scientifically aud practi-
cally, bnt in reality we know no.
thing scientifically, and much less
practically than the majority OF us
think we do. However, l do not
expect much good to result from
this commission, which was appointed
in "fishy" manner, has a " fishy
look about it, and will probably have
"scaly" result. Political corruption
permeates everything here, from the
buying of a yard OF cotton to the
building of railways, and while this is
so We cannot expect even questions Of
grave importance to be dealt with in
manner likely to result successfully.